Body found in river at Boston could be of Indian student

Sunil Tripathi, a Brown University student, has been missing since last month. He was misidentified as a suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings. (Photo credit: Facebook page Help us find Sunil Tripathi)

Police in Rhode Island pulled a man's body from the Providence River and authorities said it is "very possible" it is that of Indian-American student Sunil Tripathi, who has been missing since mid-March.

The body was recovered last night behind the Wyndham Garden Providence Hotel at around 6pm. The coach of Brown's rowing team, which practices in that area, saw the body floating in the water and called police, providence police Lieutenant Joseph Donnelly.

"It's very, very possible" that the body could be Tripathi's, Donnelly said, adding that authorities will not know for sure until the medical examiner's office in Providence identifies the body.

Donnelly said Tripathi's family has not been notified of the body's recovery, Boston.com reported.

Last week, the Brown University student was falsely accused of being one of the Boston Marathon bombers on social media websites.

An initial police sweep of Tripathi's room found his cellphone, credit card, ID, and other personal items, but his sister said his glasses and Philadelphia Eagles wool cap were gone.

The FBI has been assisting Providence police in the investigation, said Special Agent Greg Comcowich, a spokesman for the FBI's Boston division, last month.